Update: I was unfortunately not aware of Shamus Young's severe criticism of Fallout 3 available here to link in the original piece and I regret that. It dovetails rather nicely with what I've written and it's much better executed than my piece. I strongly recommend anyone...

Bomberman Blast Screenshots

REDWOOD CITY, CA - September 29, 2008 - Hudson Entertainment, the North American publishing arm for HUDSON SOFT, today announced the official launch of Bomberman Blast, an all-new Bomberman available for digital download on WiiWare for the Wii. Retaining many of the classic features that fans of the award-winning series have come to love, such as online multiplayer battles and numerous arenas, Bomberman Blast also incorporates exciting new gameplay elements like Mii support and 8-person online play.

"We are thrilled to deliver Bomberman Blast to the WiiWare gamers,"
said Sabine Duvall, Vice President of Product Development at Hudson Entertainment. "Hardcore fans and casual gamers alike will enjoy this new rendition of classic Bomberman created specifically for play on the Wii with three new Wii-specific items and Miis."

Bomberman Blast features 3 new shake-it-up items specifically created for play on the Wii. Each of these new items can be used by shaking the Wii Remote to add an entirely new aspect of play to multiplayer Bomberman battles. Players can use the Bomb Change to disguise themselves as a bomb, the Rocket to jump up high in the air to avoid bomb blasts and the Shield to block bomb blasts as long as they keep shaking the Wii Remote.

There are 10 unique level designs included in the game. Once all 10 levels have been played, gamers are able to unlock the ability to blow away the competition by using a Mii as their Bomberman. Various arenas are included, ranging from the Classic level to levels with unique and exciting twists including Hyper Feet, Bomb Bowling, and Potholes.

Players will be able to compete either solo or as part of a team against the best Bomberman players worldwide, as Bomberman Blast delivers 8-player multiplayer battles online. Players can bomb it up on one console or can compete against their friends, family, and even players from all over the world with deeply customizable Wi-Fi Battles over the Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection. Players can also submit their scores and track them using the new Rankings feature.

With the release of Bomberman Blast on WiiWare, Hudson Entertainment will offer several online tournaments, including one that coincides with the game's launch. The first tournament will be a live, online, head-to-head competition between 49 randomly-selected entrants, hosted by Hudson Entertainment. Registration for the tournament and an associated sweepstakes begins immediately and runs until 5:00 p.m. PST on October 3, 2008. The competition itself will take place starting at 2:00 p.m. PST on October 6, 2008. For more information on the upcoming tournaments and to register, players can visit www.Hudsonentertainment.com.

Bomberman Blast is rated E for Everyone by the Entertainment Software Rating Board.

About Bomberman
Originally launched in the US in 1987, the game captured gamers' hearts with its simple yet challenging gameplay. With over 60 iterations on nearly all major consoles since then, and over 10 million units sold, winning accolades as the best multiplayer game of all time, this classic game has stood the test of time. Along the way, it also pioneered the "party game" genre, encouraging groups of 4 or more friends to duke it out in one room, and was the first series to contribute to Hudson's reputation as the number one party game company.

For the latest screenshots, artwork and a new trailer, please visit:http://www.clevercomm.com/HudsonWiiWare/

About Hudson Entertainment, Inc.
Hudson Entertainment is the North American publishing arm of Hudson Soft, an international provider of games and entertainment content founded in 1973. Hudson Entertainment focuses on four key businesses:
console games, digital download content, mobile games, and music.
Hudson introduced best-selling videogame franchises including Bomberman, Bonk, and Super Adventure Island. Hudson's mobile division is a leading supplier of games and personalized content. Through numerous partnerships with record labels, Hudson has become a leading provider of hip-hop ring tones and mobile content. For more information on Hudson Entertainment, please visit www.hudsonent.com.